Social:

• Copies adults and friends
• Shows affection for friends without prompting
• Takes turns in games
• Shows concern for crying friend
• Understands the idea of “mine” and “his” or “hers”
• Shows a wide range of emotions
• Separates easily from parents
• May get upset with major changes in routine  
• Dresses and undresses self

Language/Communication

• Follows instructions with 2 or 3 steps
• Can name most familiar things
• Understands words like “in,” “on,” and “under”
• Says first name, age, and sex (can tell you if they are a boy or a girl)  
• Names a friend
• Says words like “I,” “me,” “we,” and “you” and some plurals (cars, dogs, cats)
• Talks well enough for strangers to understand most of the time
• Carries on a conversation using 2 to 3 sentences

Problem-solving:

• Can work toys with buttons, levers, and moving parts
• Plays make-believe with dolls, animals, and people
• Does puzzles with 3 or 4 pieces
• Understands what “two” means
• Copies a circle with pencil or crayon
• Turns book pages one at a time
• Builds towers of more than 6 blocks
• Screws and unscrews jar lids or turns door handle

Movement/Physical Development

• Climbs well
• Runs easily
• Pedals a tricycle (3-wheel bike)
• Walks up and down stairs, one foot on each step

WHAT FAMILIES CAN DO

• Set limits and be consistent with what your child can and cannot do; give praise for following the rules.
• Talk about your child’s emotions; encourage him/her to identify feelings of others or characters in books.
• Arrange play dates with other children to practice sharing and taking turns.
• Help your child solve a problem when upset.
• Give your child simple tasks to help around the house such as sweeping, setting the table and helping with dinner.
• Make an activity box with paper, crayons, tape, markers, ribbon, glue stick, etc.
• Color and draw lines and shapes with your child.
• Play with blocks – take turns building towers and knocking them down.
• Listen to and encourage your child to use many words and longer sentences as his/her language skills expand rapidly.
• Give your child instructions with two or three steps such as, “Go to the closet and get your jacket and hat.”
• Read to your child every day, ask him/her to point things out and repeat words or phrases after you.
• Ask your child to complete a sentence in a book that you read often.
• Encourage pretend play and provide props such as stuffed animals, hats or old clothes.
• Point out letters and numbers in signs and everyday objects such as, “Look, this word begins with the letter ‘m’ just like your name.”
• Sing songs, repeat rhymes together and make up rhyming games.
• Hold your child’s hand going up and down stairs, or encourage him/her to use the railing.
• Play with balls, practicing running and kicking.
• Visit parks, playgrounds and play spaces where your child can run and climb freely.
• Provide riding toys, such as a trike.
• Teach your child how to “pump” his/her legs while on a swing.